Centre allocates over Rs 17,000 crore to eight NE states: DoNER Minister
New Delhi: The North East MPs’ Forum on Friday demanded multiple steps to improve the socio-economic conditions of the remote and backward region with liberal assistance from the Centre including rolling back the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007.
The Forum met Union Minister for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh and conveyed their demands in a detailed memorandum. They also demanded activation of the North Eastern Council and full-fledged Cabinet rank for the DoNER Ministry.
The Minister intimated that a total of Rs.53,705 crore has been allocated for the North-Eastern Region in the current financial year which includes 10% of Gross Budgetary Allocation for the Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) and Rs.17,898 crore to be provided to the States as Special Plan Assistance (SPA), Special Central Assistance (SCA), Normal Central Assistance (NCA) or Additional Central Assistance (ACA) in addition to money being spent by Railways.
On behalf of the North East MPs, Chairman of the Forum and former Lok Sabha Speaker, PA Sangma handed over the memorandum to the Minister. The MPs had met at Shillong Lok Sabha member Vincent H Pala’s residence on Thursday night.
In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special thrust on development of North-East Region and his announcement during his recent visit to the North-East to promote sports among the youth of the region, a National Sports University will be set up in Manipur for which, Dr Singh said, the government has provided Rs.100 crore and added that the National Sports University Bill is planned to be introduced in Parliament along with the Draft Bill received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Another 100 crore is to be provided for organic farming in the region, he added. In order to improve internet and mobile connectivity, Dr Singh said a comprehensive telecom development plan for North-East Region has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.5,336.18 crore to provide 2G coverage in identified uncovered areas of North-East Region and to provide mobile coverage along the National Highways. For the purpose of expanding the road infrastructure in the region, Dr Singh informed that a new scheme called “North-East Road Development Corporation” (NERDC) has been initiated with an allocation of Rs.200 crore for the current year.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is assisting the North-East States Roads Investment Programme, which is being implemented in the six states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, he added.
To promote cultural tourism and local crafts, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation is being given special impetus and a special thrust is being given to the scenic beauty of the eight states to attract tourists from across the country and abroad.